Hearing this result, He Chuyan blinked and said, "Mr. Xiao is really considerate. He settled the bill in advance."
Although He Chuyan said so, Ye Yanxi had a hunch that something was wrong. She subconsciously asked the cashier, "Excuse me, who settled the bill?"
"A Mr. Chu in Box 2 settled the bill," the cashier told them with a smile.
After hearing this, the three of them looked at each other, and a shiver ran down their spines at the same time.
It was Chu Beize again.
He Chuyan felt a bit annoyed. "Why is this guy named Chu always haunting us? Why is he everywhere? He's so self - indulgent. I really don't know what's going on in his head."
"Why did he do this?" Du Guo asked with a worried frown.
"Who knows? Maybe his thought process is different from others. Whatever his reasons are, since he loves paying the bill so much, let him," He Chuyan chattered on.
Ye Yanxi lowered her eyes and thought for a while. "I won't accept this favor. You guys wait here. I'll go find him."
Saying that, she was about to leave, but He Chuyan was quick - witted and grabbed her. "I'm afraid his intention is to wait for you to go to him. Forget it. I'll go and return the money to him. Let's see what tricks he's playing."
Du Guo clapped her hands in agreement. So Ye Yanxi had no choice but to listen to them. She gave the money to He Chuyan. He Chuyan took the money and quickly turned around and walked towards Chu Beize's box.
Ye Yanxi and Du Guo waited at the door for a while. He Chuyan soon came back, but her face looked very grim.
"What's wrong? Didn't he do anything to you?" Du Guo asked with concern.
"What could happen?" He Chuyan's face was full of anger. "When I got there, that guy Chu Beize asked why Xiaoxi didn't come. Then I scolded him a few times and threw the money on the table. The more I looked at him, the angrier I got, so I splashed the wine on the table on his face. He was completely stunned at that time."
After saying that, He Chuyan felt much relieved.
The three of them walked out of the door. He Chuyan had drunk a little before, so she was in high spirits. Ye Yanxi asked Du Guo to send He Chuyan home first. After they got in the car and left, Ye Yanxi stood by the roadside waiting for Xu Bei to pick her up.
She had contacted Xu Bei earlier, but Xu Bei encountered some problems on the way, so he was a bit late.
Xu Bei only set off when He Chuyan and Du Guo got in the car and left. That's why Du Guo was at ease leaving Ye Yanxi waiting there alone.
While Ye Yanxi was waiting by the roadside, the person she least wanted to meet walked out of the hot - pot restaurant. Chu Beize had drunk quite a lot, so he looked drunk.
Ye Yanxi saw Chu Beize coming out of the restaurant at a glance and subconsciously wanted to avoid him.
But it was too late. Chu Beize had already seen her and strode towards her. Ye Yanxi had nowhere to hide.
"Xiaoxi, you seem really reluctant to see me," Chu Beize staggered after her. His body was swaying unsteadily.
Taking advantage of the alcohol, when he was still one step away from Ye Yanxi, he suddenly rushed towards her. It seemed that he was about to pounce on Ye Yanxi, but she nimbly dodged.
Already off - balance, his failed pounce made him definitely hit the street - lamp.
Chu Beize let out a low groan, covering his aching forehead, and looked back at Ye Yanxi.
In that instant, Ye Yanxi could almost see a flash of cruelty in Chu Beize's eyes.
Just then, Xu Bei arrived.
Before Chu Beize could say anything else, Ye Yanxi got in the car without hesitation, closed the door, and drove away, leaving Chu Beize standing under the street - lamp.
Staring at the direction where Ye Yanxi's car was leaving, Chu Beize's eyes were full of malice.
What a heartless woman. She just got in someone else's car and left.
Back then, it was she who first pestered him, but in the end, she rushed into another man's arms without looking back. If this relationship was to end, it should be him who ended it. Her heartlessness would come at a price.
Xu Bei drove Ye Yanxi directly back to the villa. The living - room was brightly lit. Ye Yanxi thought Xiao Yu had come back earlier. She happily walked in, not even having time to change her shoes, and rushed to the living - room. "Xiao Yu, I'm back. You..."
But before she could finish her words, she saw Huo Lin sitting on the big sofa at a glance. Her smile froze instantly.
Huo Lin had always been prejudiced against Ye Yanxi. Seeing that Ye Yanxi didn't change her shoes when she entered the door and was shouting so loudly without any ladylike manner, she was immediately unhappy.
"You're about to enter our Xiao family. How can you be so unruly?" Huo Lin got up and walked to Ye Yanxi's side. She looked Ye Yanxi up and down with dissatisfaction in her eyes. "Your clothes and shoes have no taste at all. How can you be worthy of our Xiaoyu?"
At the same time, since Huo Lin was standing quite close, she naturally smelled the strong smell of hot - pot on Ye Yanxi. Her face suddenly darkened.
"You actually went to eat hot - pot."
Ye Yanxi frowned and sniffed. Indeed, the smell of hot - pot was quite strong.
"If it weren't for Xiaoyu insisting on marrying you and you being pregnant, I would never let a woman like you enter our Xiao family's door," Huo Lin immediately scolded Ye Yanxi. "To enter our Xiao family, you should first dress appropriately and elegantly. You should also pay attention to your diet and eat less junk food from the roadside."
In some aspects, it had to be said that Xiao Yu and Huo Lin were mother and son, and they were quite alike.
Although Huo Lin was talkative and often disliked Ye Yanxi, she was still Xiao Yu's mother. Even if they couldn't get along harmoniously, Ye Yanxi couldn't always fall out with her.
As for Huo Lin disliking her dressing taste, there was nothing she could do. Today she went to school to register. She couldn't dress like a socialite from the upper - class society. It would be too high - profile and easy to expose herself. Although Xiao Yu had prepared many expensive designer clothes for her, she still chose some ordinary clothes.
After all, a student should look like a student.
Seeing Huo Lin looking so picky, Ye Yanxi still politely nodded. "Hello, Auntie!"
Although they had already got married, their relationship hadn't been made public, so she still addressed her as before.
Huo Lin gave her a disdainful look and motioned her to change. "Your clothes stink. Go and change them quickly."
"Okay," Ye Yanxi replied and was about to go upstairs. But just as she took a step, Huo Lin called her from behind.
"Wait a minute."
"What's the matter?" Ye Yanxi was puzzled.
"You're going upstairs without changing your shoes?" Huo Lin scolded.
Ye Yanxi looked down. She had been in such a hurry to come in that she had forgotten to change her shoes. So she went back to the door to change her shoes and then went upstairs.
As long as Huo Lin wasn't too excessive and didn't target her everywhere, Ye Yanxi could still get along with her peacefully and naturally wouldn't confront her.
After Ye Yanxi changed her clothes and came downstairs, she found that Huo Lin had changed her shoes and was standing at the entrance, as if she was about to leave.
Ye Yanxi quickly walked up and politely saw her off. "Auntie, take care!"
But Huo Lin didn't leave. She stood there glaring at Ye Yanxi, as if she wanted to pierce a hole in her body.
Ye Yanxi thought her clothes had made Huo Lin unhappy again. She looked down, but there seemed to be nothing wrong with this dress.
"What's wrong?" Ye Yanxi had no choice but to ask.
"Aren't you going to get your stuff and come with me?" Huo Lin urged.
Ye Yanxi was caught off - guard and was stunned for a moment. "What? Go with you?"
"Do I have to say it a second time?" Huo Lin frowned. Her face was extremely unpleasant. She said in a commanding tone, "Get your stuff right away. Come back to the Xiao family with me tonight."
"Why?"
Huo Lin scolded righteously, "Although Xiaoyu said he must marry you, I've accepted it. But your current behavior has nothing to do with a refined young lady. So during this period, I'll ask a professional to teach you some etiquette and the rules of the upper - class society at the Xiao family so that you can be worthy of our Xiaoyu."
Ye Yanxi was unhappy. "But I'm starting school tomorrow. I..."
"You still want to go to school?" Huo Lin's shrill voice rose an octave. She asked in surprise.
"I'm a senior this year. I'll start my internship in half a year, so I..."
Huo Lin interrupted her sharply. "So you still want to waste a year in school? Is it more important for you to go to school or to learn how to be a decent young mistress of the Xiao family?"
As the saying goes, there's no smoke without fire. It turned out that Huo Lin's purpose this time was to take her back to the Xiao family to learn some rules and etiquette. This really disgusted Ye Yanxi. Without even thinking, she knew how Huo Lin would teach her. Her way might be similar to those ancient women who learned the three obediences and four virtues. She just wanted to tie Ye Yanxi up at home.
Ye Yanxi naturally wouldn't agree.
"Sorry, Auntie Xiao. I'm afraid I can't go back with you."
Seeing that Ye Yanxi had rejected her request, Huo Lin's face immediately darkened, and her tone became sharp. "What do you mean by that? Don't you want to learn how to be a qualified young mistress of the Xiao family?"
"I..." Ye Yanxi wanted to explain.
Huo Lin interrupted her again and said angrily, "Ye Yanxi, since you've decided to marry Xiaoyu, you must learn these things. If you're not willing, does it mean that you don't want to marry Xiaoyu?"
"Auntie, I don't want to learn those things. It doesn't mean that I don't want to marry Xiao Yu. These are two different things," Ye Yanxi felt that she couldn't reason with Huo Lin at all.
"No. If you want to marry Xiaoyu, you must go back to the Xiao family with me. If you don't learn those things, you're not qualified to enter the Xiao family's door," Huo Lin angrily threw down these words.
They were just talking at cross - purposes and couldn't reach an agreement.
Just as they were at a stalemate, a tall and straight figure slowly walked out of the night at the door. A low and cold voice sounded at the same time. "Xiaoxi won't go back with you!"
Xiao Yu's sudden appearance at the door made Ye Yanxi overjoyed. Her eyebrows relaxed, as if she had caught a savior.
But Huo Lin was unhappy. Looking at her own son, she said unhappily, "I'm taking her back to teach her. It's to match your status. Do you want her to stay by your side so unruly and know nothing? She'll only embarrass you and the Xiao family."
"Xiaoxi is fine in my eyes. Now she's my legal wife. There's no need for her to learn those things. Also..." As he was speaking, Xiao Yu changed the subject. "How could the guards let you in? It seems they were blind today."
"I'm your mother. Do I still need to inform you when I come here?" Huo Lin was extremely angry.
"I think you might have made a mistake," Xiao Yu said unhurriedly. "This house is registered under Xiaoxi's name. It belongs to her and has nothing to do with the Xiao family."
Huo Lin's face turned red and then white. "Anyway, you bought this house for her with the Xiao family's money. It's the Xiao family's. Has she ever paid a single cent?"
Xiao Yu ignored her and walked directly into the house. "I've said that no matter whose money was used, now it belongs to Xiaoxi. It's surnamed Ye. If you keep making a fuss like this, I'll have to ask someone to drive you out."
Her son was completely infatuated. He was so heartless to his own mother.
"Xiaoyu, I'm your mother. You're my only son. Can't you think about our mother - son relationship?"
"Really?" At this point, Xiao Yu coldly hooked the corner of his mouth. The sneer on his face made him look cold - blooded. "Don't you feel the slightest bit of guilt when you say this?"
"Why should I feel guilty?" Huo Lin said with a straight face.
"If I'm not wrong, you sent him abroad five years ago, right?" Xiao Yu stared at Huo Lin coldly. "Do you think that by sending him away, everyone would be kept in the dark and know nothing?"
Huo Lin was stunned by the interrogation. It took her a long time to come to her senses. Her face was full of shock. She stared blankly at Xiao Yu's face, and her lips were trembling. "How... How did you know about this?"
"Paper can't wrap up fire," Xiao Yu said coldly. "I'm afraid the old man doesn't know about this yet. You might as well think about what will happen to you if the old man finds out."
"You... You're talking nonsense!"
"More than twenty years ago, you disappeared without a trace for a whole year and then suddenly reappeared. Do you think the old man never suspected you?"